Brain freeze

 I've finished filling in the form.  It was actually not too bad, the questions were fairly easy to answer (quite a lot of multi-choice tick boxes), but some of the questions are really intrusive (I kept thinking to myself blinking cheek, that's none of your damn business 😠) and the form itself was so long.  I started it yesterday and worked on it for about 40 mins, then another 2 hours this morning - a fair bit of that time was taken up with looking things up...details in paperwork, emails and bank accounts.  But it's done now.  The next part is printing off several documents required for ID, address and income verification purposes.  Which means I have to get the printer working - as I hardly ever print things, every time I need to do it I've forgotten how it works, so have to google the manual.  And I now remember that before I can do any printing (assuming I can get it working), I need to change the ink cartridge....I have got a new one, had it for ages, and even know where it is!  As to how to change it, I don't know, although I think it's fairly easy and there are picture instructions on the box if I recall.  And then the next thing is to get the printer (it's a wireless one) recognised by my laptop or phone - at the moment, none of them are talking to each other!

Thanks to those of you who said that as loads of us do online banking etc and don't have paper statements anymore, printed off copies are generally acceptable - yes, that makes sense, cheers.

My brain has had enough for one day, I'll have another go at it tomorrow.  Where's a 12 year old tech wizard when you need one 😂😂

I've been looking at and thinking about the back garden again.  There's a 6ft length of conifer hedging dividing two parts of the garden, it's about 4 or 5 ft high (it's been cut back in the past), it serves no useful purpose really and is very scruffy indeed, so I think we might have it out.  We'll buy a couple of dumpy bags to put all the prunings in and take them to the tip, there's too much of it to put in the bottom of any raised bed and I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere it's too acidic (or something like that) to be used for composting and growing things in.

Silence is golden (well it would be if I had any!)

 Thank you for comments and suggestions, I've checked and the nearest Age UK office is in Taunton, around 20 miles away.  Where we lived before, there was an Age UK agent who visited the village hall in the next village, every other week, for 2 hours, I don't know if there's a similar scheme here, I haven't yet attempted to find out.  There is a CAB in Minehead which is open for drop ins on weekdays, I've spoken to them and they said although they would be willing to help out with forms, it does depend on how busy they are and how many people are waiting, as the forms take a long time to fill in (don't I know it!).  They did say they could do it by appointment, but there's a waiting list for them!  I've decided to fill in the forms myself, although they are somewhat confusing, it just needs careful thought and time.  I'll do it for 30 mins or so at a time, in my bedroom not the lounge, as husband will either have the TV on or he'll be talking at me non-stop (he always does, except when he's asleep 😒).  Even when I ask him to be quiet as I need to fill in forms, do emails, etc....he just can't help himself, or else he forgets.  And when he's not talking to me, he's humming or whistling or talking to his computer or laughing at some silly video he's watching on his computer....he couldn't do a sponsored silence, he wouldn't last out for 5 minutes! 😂

If I just do the form filling for 30 mins at a time, then stop for a break and a coffee (or even leave it until the next day), then I won't get frustrated and headachy, which will make it easier.  I know I can print some of the required 'proof of' documents off my computer (assuming I can get my printer working again and 'talking' to my laptop).  However, the form does state the required documents have to be originals, not copies, so I don't know whether ones I print off will be acceptable.  But, as I said yesterday, if they decline to accept them then I shall ask to see a supervisor and make a point of telling them that there's no other alternative.  I might even drop in a comment about age discrimination as us 'oldies' aren't always able to cope with official things.....in this age of 'wokery' (how I despise that term!!!) that might gee them up! 😉😁.  I'm tenacious and determined, if nothing else.

I've made cheese scones this morning, to have with a cuppa soup for lunch, followed by a piece of fruit.  We like this and have it about once a week, it takes no time at all to knock up 4 scones and bake them in the air fryer, I don't even weigh out the ingredients, just do it by eye and a 'chuck it in' mentality.  For dinner I shall make cauli mac n cheese, accompanied by green veg and husband will probably have some of the chicken I roasted for him yesterday.

Forms and Spring flowers

We went to the Council offices - giant building (it's shared with Police), only saw reception and waiting area, which was virtually empty.  Turns out you have to make an appointment if you want someone to help with form filling, and it wouldn't be anytime soon.  So I was just given a sheaf of forms to fill in.  The application form is, I kid you not, 28 pages long....although to be fair, there are a few pages I don't need to fill in as they don't apply.  The form also states that our application will not be considered without all the relevant proof required - for ID (2 forms of ID each), address (again 2 types each), tenancy offer, proof of rent paid, proof of Attendance and Carers Allowance, bank statements, savings account statements, and a few other things 😲.  And they have to be original documents, not copies!  (how can that be done when we don't get paper statements etc anymore?  Can't go to the bank and request them as there isn't a branch anywhere near, and I think the bank make a charge if we phone up and request paper statements to be sent out).  As I said, they don't make things easy and obviously hope people just won't bother.  And, as one of you said, it's not easy to get an appointment with CAB anymore - that's if there's one nearby.  

I'll do the forms myself, it'll probably take me a few days (we have a month to fill them in and return them), we'll take them back to the Council in person and if I can't produce all of the documents they're asking for, I shall just tell them politely but firmly that it's simply not possible.  If the person we see says we MUST produce them, I shall ask to see their superior.  They must come across exactly this problem frequently, I'd have thought, we can't be the only ones.  Honestly, how people older than me or with cognitive problems cope with things like this, I don't know.  Anyway, I won't be defeated, I will get there - nothing stops me from achieving something when I put my mind to it....after all, we got here in just over a month from start to finish, and I did it all mostly by myself.  💪

So it's another storm out there - Jocelyn apparently - although it's a mere puff and spit in comparison to the last one.  Still gloomy and cold though.  However, on the bright side, this morning I noticed quite a few small bulbs poking out round the bottom of the apple tree in the front lawn - I think they may be snowdrops, how fabulous!  Oh I'm so looking forward to seeing all the many Spring flower bulbs that are here starting to bloom, it's going to look lovely.  It's really exciting waiting to see what's here in the garden, there are lots of things coming through and buds appearing on bare shrubs.  Can't wait!

Betty's been doing a lot of sleeping lately, more than usual.  I don't think she's unwell, she certainly doesn't seem it, doesn't appear to be in pain, no lumps visible or felt, is eating normally.  Perhaps it's just the winter, or maybe it's because she's starting to show her age - she's 7 years 3 months.  The average life span of her two breeds - Shar Pei 8-12 years, English Bulldog 8-10 years - isn't that long, unfortunately, although I don't really want to think about that.  So I'd prefer to think she's just hunkering down until Spring.  Which is what a lot of us feel like!

No damage, forms (grrr!!) and my own personal doggy heater

 The wind was really fierce yesterday evening, and was hurling rain at the windows very noisily, Betty didn't like it at all.  It was still fierce when I went to bed, but didn't keep me awake for long and when I woke up for a wee around 3 am, it had died down - in fact I couldn't hear anything.  On looking out of the windows this morning, I expected to see pots etc blown around in the garden, and perhaps some of the shrubs, roses and tree branches battered.....nothing though seemed out of place, we seem to have escaped any damage.  No tiles off the roof, the electricity didn't go off, no flooding or anything, all seems well.  To be fair, we are quite sheltered here, unlike our last house which was very exposed, especially at the rear, we often lost roof tiles there, had chimney damage one year, frequent power cuts and the front garden used to flood, although it went away quite quickly.  I hope all you lot are ok?  We have a mixture of sunshine and showers this morning, with short gusts of strong wind, although nowhere near as strong as last night.

I put a wash load on when I got up, so I could get it on the clothes airer in the car port asap, hopefully it'll dry - or nearly dry at any rate.  I had some carrot and swede mash left over from yesterday's dinner...as I had a roll of puff pastry in the fridge I decided to make some pies.  I mixed the mash with half a pack of crumbled feta cheese and 3 rashers of bacon left from husband's brunch yesterday - I diced and lightly cooked it in the microwave first.  It's made 4 pies, 2 we'll have tonight and the others, which I've partly cooked in the air fryer, will be frozen.

A couple of our neighbours, plus the housing support lady, have expressed surprise that we're not getting Council Tax benefit (old people do like to ask personal questions, I've noticed!).  I had done a cursory check a while ago and had got the impression we weren't eligible for it - so yesterday I decided to apply on the Council's online application form.  You know I said the other day that forms seem to be getting more and more complicated - or I'm finding them more difficult as I age - well, this Council form is a nightmare.  Umpteen pages long, and asking the most intrusive questions, and wanting attachments of no end of proof to back up answers.  I was getting more and more confused and irritated with each page, it felt like my brain was exploding.  So I gave up when I was about 8 or 9 pages in - I've no idea how many more pages there were.  I've decided the best thing to do will be to actually go to the Council offices - there's a major one not too far away, which is open for walk-ins every weekday - and get someone there to do it for us.  So this morning I'm gathering together all paper evidence that I think they might need - everything I can think of, including some that might not be necessary but my thinking is it's better to have it there than be asked for it and we haven't taken it with us.  Another problem is that a lot of us do everything online nowadays, so we don't always have paper evidence.  I am quite sure that nowadays official bodies employ people whose sole job is to make these forms as difficult as possible, so that we will give up!  Same goes for ringing companies - we either have to press umpteen buttons after listening to several different menu options, or are held in a queue for an hour or more, and then when we do finally get through, are quite often mysteriously just cut off.

We'll go to the Council offices tomorrow - a Monday is bound to be busy, I'd have thought - especially after the storm yesterday, people will no doubt be wanting to report damage or their refuse bins having disappeared in the wind.

Betty spent the best part of last night stretched out on her side in the middle of the bed, her entire back length pressed right up against my side, from my boobs down to my knees (she was on top of the duvet, I was underneath it, I hasten to add) - she certainly kept me warm (too warm), but left me only a narrow strip of bed to lie on.  She was clearly so comfortable, (she was snoring gently and having woofy dreams), so I didn't have the heart to move her over.  She did move when I got up to go to the loo, but came back to the same position once I got back in bed.  Bless her!

Blonde (or senior) moment

 The trouble with staying in, in blogging terms anyway, is that there's nothing much to write about!

Well, here's something.....after having typed that first sentence, I accidentally pressed something I shouldn't (don't ask me what, the sun was shining in so brightly and blinding me, so I couldn't see what I was doing 😁) and the screen went dark - still on, but impossible to see anything it was so dim.  Did a restart and it was still the same.  Went into Settings and it turned out I'd somehow or other set the screen brightness to 0!  Honestly, sometimes I make myself laugh with how blonde I am 😂😂 (except I'm no longer blonde but grey, seeing as I don't colour my hair anymore....I guess it's senior moments now!).  Oh well, sorted now 😉

I'm getting on with some admin stuff whilst we're staying home, more change of addresses etc.  I suddenly realised yesterday that I hadn't changed our home contents insurance to the new address - I did ring them before we moved, but they said they couldn't action it until we'd actually moved to the new place.  It had slipped my mind what with all the unpacking etc, so that's done now.  

I've been trying to get onto the Government website to check my State pension forecast - I'm aware that I am missing a few years' NI contributions and wanted to see exactly how many, and how it will affect my future pension.  Whilst getting Carers Allowance I do apparently get NI credits automatically, so that's good.  However, so far I've not had any luck - I need to get a Government Gateway registration, but having tried online, I come up against a brick wall when it comes to verifying my ID - it just won't have it and says it cannot proceed as no verification possible.  I suspect it's because I have no passport or driving licence, the online form says you have to have 2 forms of ID out of a given list, and I only have 1.  All blimmin online forms nowadays seem to be hellishly long and complicated, or else I'm just getting dimmer in my dotage 😂 😠.  I suppose I'll have to ring them - although that in itself is also a problem nowadays, seems we get put in queues for ages and/or have to press buttons in response to some automated instructions.  Which I can't hear properly as I'm partly deaf.  Nothing is ever simple, is it?

I'm feeling as fit as a fiddle right now - well, other than my creaking hips and knees (my back is ok right now!), the threatening cold didn't materialise at all.  Husband is hardly sneezing now, he's still got the cold but is definitely feeling better.  I'm still avoiding him as much as possible 😁 - since I'm the carer, I don't want to be ill!

It's still cold outside (in the garden with the dog), not nearly as cold as it has been but there's already a strong wind blowing.  Our local forecast says wind gusts of up to 62 expected later - wow, just as well we're not going out.  Possible power cuts too - we've got torches and candles, plenty of food, blankets etc, and a camping gas stove thing with several gas canisters, so we'll be alright for a while in the event of a power cut.  I don't know whether the housing support officers do anything in those circumstances, I guess we'll find out!  I might boil the kettle and fill a flask with hot water later, just in case.

I hope all you lot are staying home and safe, and that you don't have any problems with this new storm.

Staying in and garden planning

 My sort of sore throat and stuffed up nose have gone, no other cold symptoms and I feel absolutely fine.  Husband is no better but no worse either....well, his sneezing seems to have eased off a bit, he says he feels alright.  Cherie suggested we test for Covid - I'm sorry you and Tony have got it, I hope it's shortlived and you don't suffer any lasting effects.  We haven't got any test kits, we did have some left but I threw them out when we were packing at the old house - they were very near their use by date so I didn't see the point in keeping them.  I don't actually see much point in testing ourselves right now anyway - we've got no appointments coming up, no visitors due soon, and with the weather people predicting another storm with rain and gale force winds, we won't be going anywhere.  No shopping or anything needed, so we'll just stay at home in the warm and have lots of hot drinks and nourishing food.  I know husband is at more risk of being more seriously ill with covid, due to his health problems, so I will of course keep an eye on him and ring the surgery should he get worse.  It's not necessary right now.

We took Betty to the beach yesterday, she had a wonderful time charging around, digging holes in the sand, throwing herself into them and rolling around on her back.  She ran up and down the beach, getting loads of exercise, whilst husband and I more or less stood still and just watched her enjoying herself.  I find it quite difficult walking on the sand now, I feel very unsteady so used my walking stick for support.  Betty slept literally all afternoon when we got back, so much exercise clearly wore her out.  In view of all that running about she did, we won't feel guilty about not taking her out for walks for the next couple of days, she'll be fine just using the back garden - she loves sniffing everywhere out there anyway, we think there must be creatures (mice, hedgehogs, cats....maybe even a fox, although I'm not sure where they would get in) using the garden at night....not that we've ever seen any, but Betty can clearly smell them.  So she has all that sniffing to engage her brain and senses, and we do play with her indoors, with tug toys and balls.

I'm still thinking about and planning things for the garden, both rear and front.  At the front it's open plan, no fencing - all the front gardens are, to give the contract gardeners employed by the housing association free access to mow the lawns I guess.  So there's a lawn with a medium sized apple tree in the middle, and some shrubs and trees to one side.  Right in front of the house it's paved and gravelled, about 6 feet deep and the entire width of the house frontage.  So it's quite bare there.  I want some shrubs and/or flowers to soften it - I love flowers and colour.  Oh, there are hanging basket brackets on the front wall so there've clearly been baskets there in the past.  However, as we will be away at the caravan for up to a fortnight at a time throughout the park season, whatever containers/plants we put out there will have to survive with no watering for that time....as this is a community of elderly people, we can't expect neighbours to be watering all our plants.  So containers will need to have water-holding gel crystals or the like in them, and be deep enough to not dry out - and contain plants that don't need daily watering.  I'll have to give it a bit more thought and do some research.

Bug out, cold in

 I'm feeling much better now, thank you everyone...well, insofar as the bug thing has gone.  Whilst husband didn't catch my D&V bug, he has now got a very sneezy cold - he says he doesn't feel ill at all, but is sneezing violently and often.  He is a bit indiscriminate about where he sneezes, so it's a bit hard trying to dodge all his germs 😒.  I haven't had a cold in ages but have woken up this morning with bit of a sore throat and stuffed up nose.  I hope it doesn't get any worse, colds always seem to go to my chest, with a cough that lasts ages.  We have plenty of honey, lemon juice and ginger, plus soluble aspirin and paracetamol, so self dosing and staying in the warm will be all we're doing for the next few days.

From the weekend onwards it's forecast to be warmer - and about time too, I've been feeling the cold these past few days, and I hate feeling cold.  It's a newish thing for me - for several years, all throughout my 50s, I had hot flushes and night sweats, I almost never felt the cold.  Along with the warmer weather forecast though, comes cloud, rain and strong winds.  Can't win at the moment.  Well, however cold and/or wet it seems here, at least we haven't had -40 deg, heavy snow or floods, so we're actually really lucky to live in a temperate climate country and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I know we can't do anything about the weather, just have to wait patiently for Spring and nicer weather to arrive.  All I can do is keep thinking about the garden, watching to see what comes up and making plans for flowers, shrubs and veggies to grow.  Can't wait to see what the apple tree in the middle of the front lawn is - eater or cooker.  Doesn't really matter, I'll be happy with either.